COMMERCE, Texas – A&M-Commerce announced the 2014 football schedule on Tuesday, a slate that includes at least four home games and another trip to AT&T Stadium as part of the Lone Star Football Festival.

The Lions kick off the 2014 campaign on Thursday, Sept. 4, against East Texas Baptist, the first meetings between the teams since 1922. The next week the Lions hit the road to take on former LSC foe Stephen F. Austin on Sept. 13 in Nacogdoches. A&M-Commerce still leads the overall series with the Lumberjacks, 43-21, but has only faced the 'Jacks once since 1984.

"We are really excited about our 2014 schedule, opening up with a couple of regional match-ups against ETBU and SFA," Lion head coach Colby Carthel said. "Those games will draw a lot of attention from football fans across the East Texas region."

The Lone Star Football Festival will have added interest this season for the Lions trying to keep the Chennault Cup for consecutive years for the firs time since 1997 and 1998 when it is put on the line at AT&T Stadium in a Sept. 20 meeting against A&M-Kingsville

One week later the Lions return home for a date with Tarleton State on Oct. 4, followed by an Oct. 11 trip to Angelo State. West Texas A&M then comes to Memorial Stadium on Oct. 18 with the Lions looking to snap a six-game losing streak to the Buffs.

"Our LSC schedule will be a challenge, with four really tough road games," Carthel said. "The home slate in October should be exciting with Tarleton and West Texas A&M each coming to Memorial Stadium. Hopefully we are able to play well and set ourselves up in good position for the LSC Playoff the last two weeks of the season."

The Lions will round out October and the LSC slate the following week on Oct. 25 at Midwestern State, and will prime itself up for the newly-formed LSC Playoff vs McMurry in a Nov. 1 matinee game slated for 2:00 p.m.

The final two weeks of the season will not be determined until after the Nov. 1 meeting, with dates scheduled for Nov. 8 and 15 that will serve as placeholders for the LSC Playoff. Teams will be seeded based on their conference record, with the potential still looming for two home games late in the season.